Endurance Breeds Reward

Read It, Learn It, Live It, Share It

“Remember your word to your servant, for you have given me hope.  My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.  The arrogant mock me unmercifully, but I do not turn from your law.” – Psalm 119:49-51

The winds will blow and the seas will rise.  Waves will crash all around and the levee will be tried.  Clouds cover the light and the earth swallows the meek and timid.  In fear they run from the tempest that awaits each of them, unable to resist the desires that eat away at their flesh.  Lightning flashes from the Eastern sky and cascades, in a ripple, across the horizon of the memories that haunt our progress.  Shall the night come to an end, what might rise on the horizon of the new day dawn?  Living in constant worry and fear of the unknown, and trusting in the depth of experience passed on from days gone by.  Waters will consume the dreams of the weak, but strengthen the pioneers to pursue the challenges that have made this land great.

Where does your strength and courage come from?  If the trials of this day overwhelm you and you can’t see your way through the next 24 hours, the Lord awaits your humbled spirit and longs to lift you up from the mire that consumes you.  If you claim Him as your Savior and Lord, than trust that He loves you through every circumstance.  Let us keep in mind that there is simply nothing in this life that can steal your eternal destiny.  That decision is between you and Him alone.

Beatings, bankruptcy, hunger, nakedness, disease, addictions, homelessness, pain, suffering, unemployment, divorce, prison or isolation; tell me, which of these, take God’s plan of salvation and grace away?  Nothing, not even death itself can separate you from the grace that God has provided you.  It is given, not because you deserve it or have done enough good things to earn it or because your parents were good people.  No, it is given to you because His love is infinite and immeasurable by our simple minded concepts.  There is no way for you to grasp the completeness and overwhelming depth of His love as long as you are looking at what this world can provide. 

No man/woman should suffer in this life, but should you, as a child of God, endure the suffering and pain of this life’s events, then realize that it is only temporary and your Father in heaven is still on His throne.  He, and often times, only He can bring you comfort and healing from the wickedness in this world.  Do not hesitate to fall upon your knees and look heavenward for your strength to overcome that which lies before you this day.

             

© Sondove Enterprises, 2013
For more Daily Thoughts go to: http://sondove.blogspot.com
If you would like to be added to the email distribution please click here: Daily Thoughts

God Bless Mommy

Read It, Learn It, Live It, Share It

"Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her "  - Proverbs 31:28

  The alarm clock rings in the morning as she fumbles with the snooze button until it stops. Squinting through tired eyes in the dark of the pre-dawn morning, she finds a moment of peace with the Lord before the realization of her day begins to unfolds in her mind.  Stretching her arms and legs, muscles sore from the day before, but not too sore to step from the bed, she takes a deep breath and begins her day.  And so begins another day in the life of God's warrior and teacher.  Her days are filled with inspiring the minds of the children and challenging them with the newness of God's glory each day.  Sighing deeply as she contemplates the Lord's work for the coming day and committing herself to serving where He needs her as she feels the love bubbling up from within.

  She is building an army for the Lord.  Nurturing, strengthening and equipping them with the knowledge and skills that they will need to fight in the real world.  For a few years she is their main influence and the shaper of their personality and character.  As each day unfolds, she fills them with love and character, teaching right from wrong, showering them with hugs and band-aids when the unfortunate accident occurs.  She pours into them the message of God's love each and every day to prepare them for the world that lies ahead.  Manners, morals, values and truth are compassionately delivered beneath her roof.  Before the world has the opportunity to corrupt, she has built the foundation on which they will stand.

When the day is done and the dark has come, her attention shifts to a family perspective. Between dinner, dishes, laundry and evening news, she provides the love and caring necessary to strengthen the household once again.  For never will the day pass that it might be said her love wasn't known before they went to bed.  Her children will grow and likely move on to establish their own footprint on the world, using all of the love and gifts she has given them.  But within the walls, scars, paint and shadows of this home she will find peace and purpose. As the day draws to a close she finds comfort at last resting in her husbands arms and quietly her mind drifts away to that peaceful state of knowing she is fulfilling God’s purpose for her life.  She is a mother.

  A woman must be cherished. Her responsibilities are great and the world revolves around the values and life lessons that have been taught by God's most beautiful creation. The entire book of Proverbs 31 is dedicated to the praise of women, mothers, wives and daughters of the Lord. I truly believe there is a special place in heaven for those that have raised strong warriors for Christ, ready to fight with all of the compassion he has given them to the death for their children and for Him.  Often times overlooked and taken for granted by those around them, they have an amazing ability to pour out love to everyone regardless of the return gesture.

  Today I honor all of the mothers who are fighting for what's right, truthful and Godly in this world.  Remain strong in your faith and lean on Him when you are feeling weak, tired and beyond your ability. He alone can give you strength and courage in any situation.  He will not abandon you in any situation. Thank you for all you have given to us.  You deserve so much more than we have given you in return.  God Bless Mommy.
             

© Sondove Enterprises, 2013
For more Daily Thoughts go to: http://sondove.blogspot.com
If you would like to be added to the email distribution please click here: Daily Thoughts

Don't Forget the Creed

Read It, Learn It, Live It, Share It

“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong.  Do everything in love.” – 1 Corinthians 16:13-14

The wall was higher than he had originally remembered.  Generally when obstacles were in his way he was able to take them down without so much as breaking a sweat or straining his mental capacity.  Since his childhood he had relied solely on his brawn and his strength to overcome setbacks in life and the challenges that were constantly placed before him.  As he paced along the corridor his mind wandered to the moment when he last saw his child.  Years had passed, mistakes had been made and he was no longer the man that held her in his arms on the day of her birth.  There was a time in his life when she would run across the green grass of the front yard and leap into his strong arms as she wrapped her tiny arms around his neck and held him for all she was worth.  He would kneel down to her level and look her square in the eye and with the fullest sincerity told her, “I’ll always love you.”

How could he then have fallen so far from that day.  How could he have allowed his selfishness, his pride and arrogance to get in the way of loving his own child.  His wife had long ago given up on him and written him off, but not her, not his only child.  For some reason she had continued to write to him and stand by him, though he didn’t deserve it.  Despite her attempts to reach him, he could not wipe his memory of the awful things he said to her on that day he walked out the door.  His hand moves along the cold stone wall as he searches for the right words, the right manner by which to move on in this life.

The light at the end of the corridor causes his heart to quicken, and his breath to come in gasps.  She would now be in her mid 20’s and based on her last message, was married with a young girl of her own.  Standing at the door, his hand on the smooth surface of the 2 inches of metal that separated him from the rest of his life, his feet froze.  Once that door opened, he would have to face the reality of everything he had spent the last 20 years of his life avoiding.  His eyes were blinded by the brightness of the sun shining through the crack as the door opened, and the warm humidity of the summer day washed over him.  Stepping onto the dirt and stone driveway, his eyes adjusted to the invasion of sunlight.  He saw her figure silhouetted against the horizon and lifted his hand to block the sun.  As he did, he saw the young girl running towards him and leaping.  He reached out and caught her in his arms, kneeling down upon the stone drive, he heard these words, “I’ve always loved you Grandpa.”

Men, you own your legacy, you own the responsibility of raising your children to love God and love others as God has loved you.  Teach them that love is not conditional and that we are all broken in one way or another, but if we love through the pain, God will restore our brokenness.  It is not expected that you will be the perfect father or the perfect husband or the perfect Christian; but you have to take ownership of serving them with everything you have.  They will become what you demonstrate to them, just as you should become what Christ demonstrated to you.  Put aside your shame, your pride, your arrogance and selfishness.  Press back the desires to run and hide from the responsibility that has been laid upon your shoulders.  Alcohol, drugs, lust, greed, sex and other addictions will only cloud your judgment and your ability to love your wife and children according to the principals of our Savior.

Guard your family with everything you have, for the enemy is outside of your doors and windows trying desperately to break up the love that God has placed inside of you.  Take back what the world has taken, seek their forgiveness and pursue their love and their heart with every breath you have left.  This is your family and you need to be willing to give them nothing short of your life if that’s what it takes.  Jesus Christ died so that you might have life, you must learn to die to yourself to ensure that your family likewise has life.


PRAYER:
Heavenly Father,
We are all sinners and none worthy of your love, yet you have given it freely to all who seek it.  I pray for the men today, that they might be convicted by Your Holy Spirit to stand up for what is good and right in following you.  I pray that they might find the strength to overcome the world’s desires that fill their mind and heart, and press on to pursue Your presence in everything they do.  Lord, forgive these men for their past and give them a vision to their future that is filled with Your love and purpose in their life. I pray these things in the name of Your Son – Jesus Christ.  Amen

             

© Sondove Enterprises, 2013
For more Daily Thoughts go to: http://sondove.blogspot.com

All About Love

Read It, Learn It, Live It, Share It

“What a person desires is unfailing love; better to be poor than a liar.” – Proverbs 19:22

What does it mean to love someone unconditionally?  Does it mean that you can never get angry with someone for their actions?  Does it imply that everything they do is okay even if someone else gets hurt?  Of course not.  There is very few that can say they love someone unconditionally.  Conditions exist on every relationship, every thought, emotion and reaction.  It is impossible to separate the emotion from the action in these circumstances, often times resulting in a circumstance where the love we might have for another person is altered and diminished.

We walk through this world with our guard up, constantly on the alert for those that might offend us in the slightest way.  Our hearts are made of stained glass and there are very large rocks that others carry with them everywhere they go.  Think of the last person that hurt you.  Think carefully about what that person did (or didn’t do) that caused your pain.  Was it an action, a word or worse yet something physical?  What do you believe was at the heart of that person when this happened?  Do you truly believe they were intending to hurt you and if so why?  Were they harboring their own hurt feelings from something you or someone you know may have done to them in the past?

You see, one action begets another action, which begets another and so on and so on and so on.  When it all comes down to it, we are a very reactive society and most of the time we are intent on getting even when our feelings are hurt.  It is human nature to look out for our own self interests in most situations, without consideration for what the other person(s) may be going through.

So how is it that God can love us regardless?  His love is a spiritual love – deeper than emotion, deeper than physical.  His love is at the heart and soul level.  He sees what is underneath the fleshy outer layer and the ego, pride and selfishness.  He understands very clearly who you are, because He created you.  No one, not even your momma knows you as intimately as God knows you.  He knows what is on your lips and tongue before the words even leave the mouth.  Just what is it that you can hide from Him?  The secret sin that no-one knows about, He does.  Those little lies you tell to make every else like you, He knows.  That lustful feeling you get every time that special someone walks by, He sees it.  You can’t get away from His righteousness, for it is from within – the Holy Spirit.

God loves you unconditionally.  There is nothing you can do to remove yourself from His love.  You can deny Him all you want, and miss out on receiving His love, but it doesn’t make Him love you less.  You can blaspheme the Holy Spirit, but He still loves you and pains over your decision and refusal to accept His love.  It cannot change, it is consistent and pure and available, but you must accept it to enjoy the rewards of eternity with the Creator.

Heavenly Father,
Your grace is representative of Your infallible and unconditional love for mankind.  You have given it all, provided the means, the plan and the guidelines for accepting Your love.  It is available for each man, woman and child to accept and thereby receive eternal life through our Lord’s sacrifice at Calvary.  Help us to forgive others as You do, and to love them like You do.  In Jesus name we pray – Amen.
© Sondove Enterprises, 2011
For more Daily Thoughts go to: http://www.10minutereader.com

Soul Mates

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’- Matthew 22:37

 

They were soul mates. She was 14, he was 17 and when they first caught a glimpse of each other across the basketball court, there was definitely a sparkle in their eyes. They were each with someone else that night, but the little bit of harmless flirting that went on would one day be recorded in their memoirs. Years later they walked down the aisle together to begin the tumultuous roller coaster of a life filled with a love from deep within. As the words from the Pastor echoed through the church rafters, "What God has brought together, let no man put asunder" were heard it was taken to heart. Time will pass and these two soul mates will rest in the strength of their love and commitment and watch their family grow and prosper, all from the comfort of a front porch swing.

Love between a man and woman will last a lifetime. Certainly some would argue that a mother's love is stronger than any other, but I propose that a stronger love does not exist than that between husband and wife. It is also the most difficult to put parameters around, until one fathoms the depth of love from God and required of God. You've heard me say a hundred times and I'll keep saying it until the day I die; God cannot love you any more or any less than He does right this minute. Pastor Randy (Harvey) once made the following statement which clearly articulates the love I imagine from God.

"God looked from the beginning of your life and all the way out past it, and said, "There is nothing this boy(girl) will ever do that will keep Me from loving him."
So the real question of the scripture is, are we able to love God as much as He loves us? The answer is emphatically, "No." Loving with ALL your heart, soul and mind is impossible with humanity, but that is what God deserves. Why - because that's the way He loves you. God looked down from heaven on the first Good Friday, I suspect with tears, and watched them beat His son, crucify His son and buty His son. Could God have stopped it? Absolutely, but it would have cost the eternal lives of every other human for all time. All of His heart, All of His mind and All of His soul were laid open on that day; and God with His infinite love for mankind, swallowed His love for His own son and watched Him die a horrible death.

With the resurrection on Easter Sunday, Christ prepared a way for us to return that love back to the Father. For Jesus Christ has the capacity to love the Lord with All of His heart, His soul and His mind and only through Him are we able to reciprocate with love for the Father. Taking up this scripture and claiming the love of the Father as an entitlement will begin to enrich your desires to love Him back. For as much as you love your husband/wife and children, the love we can give back to God is exponentially greater. Take hold of it my friends. You don't deserve it, but He is giving it to you freely.
Loving Father,
Your love is beyond comprehension, beyond our ability to fully understand it’s depth and completeness.  There is nothing we can offer that can compare.  You loved us enough to sacrifice Your own Son so that mankind may rest in Your glory and peace one day.  Press this down upon me Lord, that I might find rest in You today.  In Jesus name we pray – Amen.

© Sondove Enterprises, 2010
For more Daily Thoughts go to: http://www.10minutereader.com

No Other Love

“We love because he first loved us." - 1 John 4:19

Such a simple statement, yet filled with depth and wisdom. Where does love come from? It is an emotion, a very complex emotion, that I propose is inherent at birth. But can someone grow to love another? John's words here are reflective of the Christian claim to love God. This verse, in context, is surrounded by questions posed by John around our ability to love God if we cannot love those around us.

As parent's we teach our children that they shouldn't say, "I hate her (him)." because hate is such a strong passionate negative verb. The act of hating builds a wall of anger in the personality of the owner. This wall of emotion prevents us from fully experiencing the joy and love of the Lord. For to fully appreciate His love and reciprocate in like manner, we must be able to love other's first.

God's love is defined by the highest standard imagineable. Completely unconditional in character. There is nothing, absolutely nothing that can separate you from His love. On the other hand, we struggle daily with the conditions that are wrapped around relationships, emotions and actions of those we say we love. It is impossible for us to fully comprehend the depth of the word unconditional. The closest thing possible to understanding God's love for us is the love of a parent to their children.

A miracle of God happens on the day a baby is born into a family. As a father of five I can affirm that nothing measures up to the first time I held my child in the hospital room. The unbelievable emotions cannot be captured in words. Looking into the eyes of your child, you discover the dependency that exists between a parent and the child. Both are dependent upon the other for a love that will endure all things that may come in life. Unknowingly, unable to see into the future, at that very moment, a father commits to his child to always be there for them, to always love them no matter what, to protect them, to raise them and teach them with integrity and moral values. I believe a baby, less than an hour old, is able to form a trust with their mother and father that is built on the foundation of this love. Otherwise how is it that a baby will find comfort in their arms and none other from the moment it is born. This love will draw and hold them together for their entire life.

If you are a parent and have experienced this depth of love at that birth of your child, you know that there is no stronger love. The child that came from your creation, is bound by the blood that runs through their veins and the fills their heart, mind and soul. This mind that contains the capability to experience the emotion of love equally with their parent. This love between a child and their parent is the closest thing we have to compare to the love God has for us. Even then, it falls well short of His love. For you see, as much as we try to live our lives with an unconditional love for our children, the possibility is there for that emotion to be altered. There are limitations to the love, whether we would acknowledge them or not, that exist between one human and another.

So walk with your head held high today, knowing that God cannot love you any more or any less than you He does at this very moment. His love is the only love that is completely unconditional and consistent without rules. Wrapping your head around this concept should lift you to an all new high, that the creator of the universe loves you. Wow.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father,Thank You for loving us, despite our unrighteousness and sinful nature. Your word tells us that You are love, and that we are to love one another in the manner that You first loved us. Help us Lord to put aside our differences, prejudices and bias to just love each other. Today I lift my prayers to Your for strength and courage in this area of my life, and ask that Your love is made evident to all through me. In Your name we pray – Amen

http://www.10minutereader.com/
©Sondove Enterprises, 2011